Patent GB-988329-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to apparatus for handling bundles of mail
IPC: B07C1/00
Filed: 1961-10-06
Abstract: 988,329. Bundling machines. B. H. BUNN CO. Oct. 6, 1961 [Oct. 6, 1960], No. 43960/63. Divided out of 988,328. Heading B8C. A machine for tying bundles of letters has a conveyer 40, Figs. 1, 2, 6, for carrying bundles of letters 140 in buckets 61 to a transfer mechanism 41 which moves the bundles to a first tying device 42 where the bundles are tied in one direction; a second transfer mechanism 43 moves the bundles to a second tying device 44 to tie the bundle in a second direction, the tied bundle is then expelled to a hopper, for example. Non-driven sprocket-wheel 71 has pins 184, 185, 186 which operate switches 187- 191, Fig. 15, to initiate operation of the tying apparatus. Firstly, pin 184 operates switch 188 to operate jack 118 to lower transfer mechanism 41 in time with the conveyer; pin 184 then operates switch 189 to cause jack 98 to move head 90 towards conveyer 40, Fig. 8 (not shown), these two movements overlap in the last portion of downward movement of the mechanism 41. A finger 101 on a guide rod of head 90 actuates a switch 209 to move a jack 86 downwards to clamp a bundle of letters in head 90. Switch 190 is then depressed to detract jack 98 with the letters, and switch 191 then operates jack 115 to rotate the head 90 through 90 degrees to the first tying device 42, Fig. 1. As the head rotates two switches are operated in turn, the first causes jack 98 to extend toward the tying device and the second causes a hold down jack 134 to lower a yoke 129 on to the letters, Fig. 11, and in doing so depresses a lever to cause a tie to be passed and tied around the letters. As jack 134 is operated it actuates switches 216, 217 which raise clamping jack 86 and retracts jack 98 to withdraw head 90 from the letters. The next pin on sprocket 71 then closes switch 187 to operate jack 115 to swing the head back through 90 degrees to its initial position. During the tying of the letters initiated by depression of the lever, which is not depressed if no letters are present, a gear 197, Fig. 11a, is rotated, a pin 201 on which, operates switch 198 to cause jack 134 to raise yoke 129 at the same time as jack 98 withdraws head 90. A cam 202 on gear 197 then operates switch 199 to extend a jack of transfer mechanism 43 to transfer the tied bundle to the second tying device 44; the jack is then retracted. A further pin 203 operates switch 200 to cause jack 153 of device 44 to lower a yoke on to bundles 140. The device 44 operates as the tying device 42 to tie the bundle at right angles to the previous tie. A gear 208, Fig. 14a, on the device 42 has a pin 206 which operates a switch 204 to retract jack 153 and the yoke, and a cam 207 to extend a jack 160, to expel the tied bundle to a hopper for example. The conveyer 40 has been continuously moving and the next pin 186 on sprocket 71 has passed over switches 188-191 to repeat the tying cycle for the next bundle. A safety switch 257 operated by pin 258 on gear 197, Fig. 11a, to ensure that yoke 148 is raised before transfer mechanism 43 is operated. All the jacks are pneumatically operated under the control of solenoid operated valves operated from the various switches, Figs. 16, 17 (not shown). The tying devices may be as described in Specification 772,956 modified as set out in Specification 988,328.